bashoGWSS1

Allen describes a consciousness that takes values from both cultures that it stems from with no regard to the type of values it takes. Both good and bad are mixed together to create a consciousness that is part of each. Allen's consciousness is produced because of the 'civilized' effects from the white culture and the power accorded to women in the Indian culture. The women in the Indian culture are torn between acting as strong members of their society and acting as the delicate 'flowers' of white culture. This push and pull of the two cultures causes them to fracture in order to cope with the stresses. Allen tells us that the women deal with this in different ways; drinking, partying, quitting jobs and other self destructive ways. Power works through identity by limiting how much respect and power that Indian women have in different situations. This fluctuating power is based on the context of the social situation that the women are in and has nothing to do with who they are as individuals. Anzaldua describes a consciousness that comes from the fracture of being in different power systems at the same time. But, where Allen points out the negative aspects of this division of expectations, Anzaldua is quick to point out the benefit of being 'hybridized'. She equates cultural hybridization to biological hybridization whereby a stronger individual is created. Anzaldua and Allen have very different views of how intersectionality affect power. Anzaldua sees the intersectionality as something that strengthens and supports the power of women in society while Allen sees it as weakening woman's power. Another difference is that Anzaldua sees the intersectionality as a way for women to grow stronger by developing a tolerance for the intersection and Allen sees it as a way to bring out the worst in Women by sending conflicting messages of how to act.